The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says it expects to have an advisory police force in southern Kyrgyzstan by early September, RFE/RL reports.
Frane Maroevic, deputy spokesman of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, told RFE/RL on August 4 that no concrete date has been set for the planned deployment of 52 unarmed police officers. But he said the technical details of the force have been finalized.
Maroevic said the OSCE is still taking offers from member states willing to send police officers to Kyrgyzstan. He said the deadline for such offers is August 8, and added that the OSCE is still looking for pledges from member states to fund the deployment.
Maroevic said the OSCE Permanent Council, which is needed to approve decisions regarding the OSCE police force, will not meet in August.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service on August 4 that the government has been coordinating the deployment with the OSCE.
"Now [the OSCE] is deciding when to send the police advisory group to Kyrgyzstan. It could come very soon. Now the...[OSCE] is selecting candidates. We sent them our own suggestions such as [the OSCE police advisers] should speak Russian, be experienced, and should understand our culture and mentality," Kazakbaev said.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva gave her approval to the international police force last month. It is scheduled to be placed in the southern regions of Jalal-Abad and Osh, where clashes in June between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz led to at least 366 deaths.
There have been several protests in recent weeks in Kyrgyzstan against the OSCE police force. Several politicians, including Osh Mayor Melis Myrzakmatov, have also voiced their opposition to the proposed deployment.
Frane Maroevic, deputy spokesman of the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, told RFE/RL on August 4 that no concrete date has been set for the planned deployment of 52 unarmed police officers. But he said the technical details of the force have been finalized.
Maroevic said the OSCE is still taking offers from member states willing to send police officers to Kyrgyzstan. He said the deadline for such offers is August 8, and added that the OSCE is still looking for pledges from member states to fund the deployment.
Maroevic said the OSCE Permanent Council, which is needed to approve decisions regarding the OSCE police force, will not meet in August.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service on August 4 that the government has been coordinating the deployment with the OSCE.
"Now [the OSCE] is deciding when to send the police advisory group to Kyrgyzstan. It could come very soon. Now the...[OSCE] is selecting candidates. We sent them our own suggestions such as [the OSCE police advisers] should speak Russian, be experienced, and should understand our culture and mentality," Kazakbaev said.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbaeva gave her approval to the international police force last month. It is scheduled to be placed in the southern regions of Jalal-Abad and Osh, where clashes in June between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz led to at least 366 deaths.
There have been several protests in recent weeks in Kyrgyzstan against the OSCE police force. Several politicians, including Osh Mayor Melis Myrzakmatov, have also voiced their opposition to the proposed deployment.
